Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Announcing: The Balding Handbook

One month from today, Eckhartz Press will be shipping our newest book: "The Balding Handbook: 5 Stages of Grieving for your Hair Loss" by David Stern. On November 1st we'll start taking pre-orders for this self-help classic, at the Eckhartz Press website.

David Stern is no ordinary cueball. He's a fully actualized bald man. Stern has gone through all five stages of grieving for his hair (that's the author on the cover during stage 4), and he's now in a better place. If you or someone you know wants to join him there, "The Balding Handbook" will provide you with a road map.

"The Balding Handbook" takes you beyond those embarrassing denial moments (hats, combovers, plugs, pieces), keeps you out of jail during that angry second stage, helps you construct a perfect offer to God while you bargain for your hair back, comforts you through the depths of balding depression, and brings you into the light. Of course, you'll need sunscreen when you get there, but the few extra bucks you shell out to the Tropicana people is a trifle when you consider the incredible life that awaits you after reading this book. Whether you're a fellow sufferer, or just a mean person that wants to give this book as a gag gift to that baldy you know ("Tee hee, Get it? You're bald!"), The Balding Handbook is for you.

"The Balding Handbook" isn't just a book. It is going to change the world...$15.95 at a time.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Meet the Eckhartz Press Authors

Next week and weekend there will be several chances to meet the Eckhartz Press authors around Chicagoland.

On Tuesday October 9th, from 12:30-1:15, Brendan Sullivan ("The Living Wills") will be conducting a writing workshop at Oakton College on their Des Plaines campus, in the Library (Lower Level). Everyone is welcome--there will be snacks.

On Saturday October 13th, from 11am--3pm, Randy Richardson ("Cheeseland") and Kim Strickland ("Down at the Golden Coin") will be appearing at the Joliet Public Library (3395 Black Road) for Author Fair 2012. There will be lots of other authors there too--a good time should be had one and all.

Also on Saturday October 13th, at 12:30, Brendan Sullivan ("The Living Wills") will be at iBAM (Irish Books Arts & Music) at the Irish American Heritage Center.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Meet Brendan Sullivan

Eckhartz Press author Brendan Sullivan ("The Living Wills") will be appearing at iBAM (Irish Books Art & Music) 2012 in Chicago next Saturday, October 13. His speech "Breaking Through Creative Blocks" will be at 12:30 in the library at the Irish American Heritage Center.

This is the write up about Brendan on the iBAM website...

“The Living Wills” is the product of collaborative creativity between Brendan Sullivan and writing partner, Rick Kaempfer. A decision made in two seconds can change, damage, save or even end a life. Henry Stankiewicz made such a decision and he is still dealing with the ripple effects over 30 years later. Can he and the people he affected now maneuver their way through a world of baristas and Army veterans, cartoon pirates and exploding port-a-potties, Canadian cowboys and bowling teams, office politics an young love, to find the strength to heal before it’s too late?

Brendan Sullivan is a creativity coach. He helps organizational teams, leaders and individuals to create more innovative solutions, more successful creative ideas, and a healthier, more collaborative work environment where talented people can flourish. Brendan has designed, facilitated and presented his programs to a wide range of clients, including large corporations like Kellogg’s, Harley-Davidson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sara Lee, Jenny Craig, PepsiCo, Aetna, Marriott Hotels and many others, as well as to many smaller companies, nonprofit groups, schools and government agencies.

Brendan also was the creative producer, for 10 years, of a top-rated morning radio show in Chicago, the Jonathon Brandmeier Radio Showgram. His job was to create material for the show, written pieces, creative ideas and humorous character segments. Brendan developed successful, transferable techniques for generating creative ideas quickly. As an actor, Brendan has appeared in national television commercials, feature films, television productions and the theater. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Brendan has also written scripts which were produced for television and the stage, as well as feature articles in magazines and advertising copy for business publications and radio commercials. Brendan and his wife, Susan, have four children and live in Chicago.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Randy Richardson: A Review, An Interview, An Event


There he is, Randy Richardson reading page 24 of the Sept./Oct. issue of Conversations Magazine, Cyrus Webb's review of "Cheeseland". Cyrus writes, "Delivered with skill and captivating from beginning to end, "Cheeseland" reminds us of the preciousness of life and the importance of making the most of each and every day." Nice.

Here's an interview with Randy at Dina Raye's Write Stuff.

And if you'd like to meet Randy, he'll be here this coming Sunday: "This month the incomparable Rose Metal Press partners with Sunday Salon Chicago. They’ll be featuring two of their authors, Aaron Teel and Kyle Minor. Chicago writers Randy Richardson and Paul Jones fill out the bill. Please join us in the super-cool back room at Black Rock. You'll have fun and go home happy, we guarantee it! 8-9:30pm, Black Rock Pub & Kitchen, 3614 N Damen Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60618"

Kim Strickland's Book Blog Tour

Eckhartz Press author Kim Strickland ("Down at the Golden Coin") is going to be busy promoting her book over the next month or two on a book blog tour!

Her first stop was here.

But she'll be doing quite a few more...


November 19 - Mrs. Mommy Booknerd Book Reviews
http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com/
Guest post, interview, excerpt

November 20 - A Novel Review
http://anovelreview.blogspot.com/
review only

November 22 - Samantha March
http://www.samanthamarch.com/
Interview and excerpt

November 23 - A Buckeye Girl Reads
http://lovesromances.blogspot.com/
guest post and interview

November 26 - Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
review

November 27 - Whooopeeyoo
http://whoopeeyoo.com/
Guest Post and Excerpt

November 30 - Storm Goddess Book Reviews
http://www.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Review

December 1 - Shelley's Book Case
http://shelleyreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/
Guest post, Interview and excerpt

Monday, September 17, 2012

Randy Richardson at the Beverly Arts Center

Attention Chicago South Siders! Mark your calendars for this Sunday. Penny Golden will interview Eckhartz Press author Randy Richardson about his new book, "Cheeseland", at the Beverly Arts Center (2407 W. 111th St) at 2pm.

Penny does a wonderful job interviewing authors, and Randy has a distinctly south side story to tell.

Set on Chicago’s south side, “Cheeseland” is a story about loyalty, friendship and the self-destructive nature of secret-keeping and unresolved anger. In the first part two high school boys take a road trip through Wisconsin as they grieve over another friend’s suicide. The journey of recovery is filled with comical twists as the two teens navigate Cheeseland, a place that blurs the line between adolescence and adulthood.

The second part takes place 30 years later as the novel's long and winding road comes full circle and the two friends finally confront their past and come to grips with their present lives. “Cheeseland” is a published by Eckhartz Press.

An attorney and award-winning journalist Randy Richardson’s essays have been published in the anthologies “Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul,” “Humor for a Boomer’s Heart,” “The Big Book of Christmas Joy,” and “Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year,”as well as in numerous print and online journals and magazines

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Balding Handbook on Twitter


Our next Eckhartz Press book, "The Balding Handbook: 5 Stages of Grieving for Your Hair Loss", now has a twitter account. The book comes out in just over a month.

In the meantime, follow author David Stern's hairless tweets.